tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38626602015-03-30T01:35:50.084-07:00Marc Valdez WeblogBargain Basement for Brainiacs - Sacramento area community musical theater (esp. DMTC in Davis), liberal politics, Kylie Minogue, SW meteorology, hurricanes, Australian bits, "Breaking Bad" filming locations reference site, and general weirdness.Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.comBlogger15091125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-6454902852111781022015-03-30T01:35:00.003-07:002015-03-30T01:35:50.094-07:00Ooh! Unfriended on Facebook! Yes, JCGH did not fully appreciate the elegant symmetry and cosmic justice of the argument. Perhaps next time.<br /><br />I do not understand his inability to simply acknowledge the gravity of his colleague's crimes against a number of people, including me, even after all the judges on the California Supreme Court (they met en banc and the disbarment was signed by the Chief Justice) had done so, and thus is the poorest advocate ever to recommend anyone's disbarment, even of someone who wants to see him murdered (California attorney McLaughlin). See? Perfect symmetry! But we all have our sensitivities.<br /><br />I mean, even a formulaic "I'm sorry for your loss" would be a positive development. Being Unfriended is to be welcomed.Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-12047360585156589202015-03-30T01:22:00.001-07:002015-03-30T01:22:09.025-07:00Konshens - Do Sum'nIntrigued after LaToya's class Thursday night at Sierra II to crash around YouTube and try to find some of the videos for the Dancehall tunes she played. (I know next to nothing about the field, so almost anything I stumble across is new). Found some of the tunes, but preferred this tune instead. Not only does it feel more danceable than just about any tune, it comes with a message too. In this video, Konshens mixes dancer interviews with his song, making for a music video of greater depth than one is likely to find anywhere else.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yc8PmYhE6uc?list=PLhS3rVDGGaFAAjt0HH_bqKXhgGA2q66RE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A9RjoNZ9tJs?list=PLhS3rVDGGaFAAjt0HH_bqKXhgGA2q66RE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-81060603438241644712015-03-30T01:19:00.001-07:002015-03-30T01:19:10.838-07:00For The Moment, Caring For Bella, The Labrador Retriever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MznVFtpSKsA/VRkFnQsx5WI/AAAAAAAAhMo/y2H1EMyZ9eA/s1600/10361461_10206209311060732_462642497645981264_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MznVFtpSKsA/VRkFnQsx5WI/AAAAAAAAhMo/y2H1EMyZ9eA/s400/10361461_10206209311060732_462642497645981264_n.jpg" /></a>On Wednesday, she was over at my place. I didn't get much sleep (3 hrs), not because she was causing any problem, but because it was weird to have a dog there. Many walks, bleary-eyed playtime at 7 a.m. - I don't know if I have the stamina. She's a very strong dog.<br /><br />[UPDATE: Since it looks like Joe the Plumber and I had a mutual misunderstanding about the fate of Bella the Labrador Retriever, I'll keep her, this time, at most, for two weeks. Joe seemed to think he could kennel her at no cost indefinitely with me. This I will not do. Meanwhile, I've got leads about other, deserving dogs up for adoption.<br /><br />Joe came over Sunday evening, to visit Bella, since he said he thought she was upset (She wasn't, but no need to reveal that). Talked a lot about handing out food at the church and beating up Wal-Mart security guards.]<br /></div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-6228963474951187952015-03-25T15:55:00.001-07:002015-03-25T15:55:18.061-07:00The Muchachos Thank You, Dr. George!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yrb6RqAUMYk/VRM8BZAP3nI/AAAAAAAAhMQ/VZpg0AIKYe8/s1600/20130503003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yrb6RqAUMYk/VRM8BZAP3nI/AAAAAAAAhMQ/VZpg0AIKYe8/s400/20130503003.jpg" /></a>My childhood hero and role model. RIP, Dr. George!<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">George Fischbeck, who became a phenomenon in Albuquerque as a television science teacher and meteorologist in the 1960s and early ’70s, before being lured to Los Angeles where he continued as a top rated TV weatherman, died early Wednesday from natural causes. He was 92.<br /><br />Dr. George, as he was known, had been living in the Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement home in Woodland Hills, Calif.<br /><br />Fischbeck was recognized nationally for his bushy mustache, dark eyeglasses, signature bow tie and his funny, frenetic delivery.<br /><br />He was born in New Jersey, where he was exposed to immigrant workers from around the world on his family’s farm. That sparked his interest in cultures. He later moved to Albuquerque to study and earn his bachelor’s degree in anthropology and archeology at the University of New Mexico. He subsequently received a master’s degree in education from UNM and became a teacher in the Albuquerque Public Schools for 23 years.<br /><br />In 1959, a program director at local PBS station, KNME-TV, Channel 5, asked Fischbeck if he wanted to do a 30-minute TV science program for Albuquerque students. The program, “Science 5,” became so popular that it was picked up by schools in 25 cities around the country.<br /><br />In 1970, Fischbeck was hired to be the 6 and 10 p.m. weatherman on KOB-TV, Channel 4, Within weeks, the station’s newscast moved from second to first.<br /><br />In 1972, he moved to Los Angeles after accepting a position as weatherman for KABC-TV. In 1994, he moved to KCBS-TV, also in Los Angeles, where spent a few years doing feature stories.<br /></div><br />It's nice to remember that it used to rain in California!<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q9YY8slevwg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-35694749931956208012015-03-25T15:49:00.002-07:002015-03-25T15:49:36.911-07:00Dolly's Party Last DecemberHere is Dolly's excellent fitness party at Momo's in December. (I appear briefly at 1:22, having fun, but looking a trifle clueless.)<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eaiawUDRKmU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-79994972781821336832015-03-25T15:47:00.000-07:002015-03-25T15:47:01.941-07:00 Eclipse Of The Cash BundlersThe <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-2016-campaign-the-lament-of-the-not-quite-rich-enough/2015/03/24/f0a38b18-cdb4-11e4-8a46-b1dc9be5a8ff_story.html">eclipse of the campaign cash bundlers</a>. They used to be in high demand, but this time they can't compete with the SuperPACs. Time to push a shopping cart around town and collect recyclables like the rest of us:<br /><blockquote>“They are only going to people who are multi-multi-millionaires and billionaires and raising big money first,” said Neese, who founded a successful employment agency. “Most of the people I talk to are kind of rolling their eyes and saying, ‘You know, we just don’t count anymore.’ ”</blockquote>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-18221427544952533622015-03-25T15:44:00.001-07:002015-03-25T15:44:25.004-07:00BellaDecision time. Do I take Bella the Labrador Retriever, or not? Joe the Plumber had always managed to keep her before, but his situation has deteriorated to the point where options are dwindling. And she is a sweetheart....Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-75547043666090165152015-03-25T15:43:00.001-07:002015-03-25T15:43:41.579-07:00"Home"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5A3i0Oks1KE/VRM5RZPxdmI/AAAAAAAAhME/7oUJ6l7oKqc/s1600/10924704_10206201294700328_1084667650237763758_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5A3i0Oks1KE/VRM5RZPxdmI/AAAAAAAAhME/7oUJ6l7oKqc/s400/10924704_10206201294700328_1084667650237763758_n.jpg" /></a>Strange ritual. Standing in a line with Justin to see an animated Dreamworks movie preview, "Home".<br /><br />Rihanna as Tip. Matt Jones (Badger from 'Breaking Bad') as Kyle the Traffic Cop. Justin says "O" is from 'The Big Bang Theory'.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Justin gets free tix to the previews: movies I wouldn't ordinarily consider seeing. It's very sweet and clever film. Glad I saw it.<br /><br /></div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G9F6VhFY4wY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-74855818359484911142015-03-25T15:38:00.000-07:002015-03-25T15:38:16.195-07:00Ken Ford vs. The FedsWow. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/science/hydrogen-bomb-physicists-book-runs-afoul-of-energy-department.html?_r=0">DOE overreach, post-9/11</a>. The net effect over time will be to create a citizenry dangerously uneducated about nuclear weapons. I once met a Iranian who thought buildings in a city center could shield a bomb's blast from damaging the rest of the city. Crap like that. Article contains an interesting oversight, which I can spot after working at the Kirtland AFB Weapons Lab in ABQ in the 70's. The surface of the island of Elugelab wasn't so much vaporized as it was punched deep underwater, as the coral collapsed under the astonishing overpressure of the nuke. Know your nukes!:<blockquote>The author, Kenneth W. Ford, 88, spent his career in academia and has not worked on weapons since 1953. His memoir, “Building the H Bomb: A Personal History,” is his 10th book. The others are physics texts, elucidations of popular science and a reminiscence on flying small planes.<br /><br />He said he included the disputed material because it had already been disclosed elsewhere and helped him paint a fuller picture of an important chapter of American history. But after he volunteered the manuscript for a security review, federal officials told him to remove about 10 percent of the text, or roughly 5,000 words.<br /><br />“They wanted to eviscerate the book,” Dr. Ford said in an interview at his home here. “My first thought was, ‘This is so ridiculous I won’t even respond.’ ”</blockquote><br />In the late 70's I was a UNM work-study student at the Kirtland AFB Weapons Lab assigned to the group studying geology of the atolls, so as to understand weapons effects better. The big project of the day was the MX missile, which was supposed to run in underground tubes in the AZ desert west of Tucson, but after many billions were spent I understand they discovered the underpressure following the main shock wave of a single atom bomb striking the tube network would lead to instantaneous collapse of the entire network of tubes. That discovery forced a radical redesign of the program. The public story for the redesign was the program had become too expensive and had to be scaled back; the back story was they had inadvertently incorporated a fatal flaw.Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-73147926912953551352015-03-25T15:33:00.001-07:002015-03-25T15:33:48.752-07:00UNM Dance MemoryThis is pretty cool. Back around 1977 I took a dance movement class at UNM with Jennifer Predock, and it's nice to see she's still choreographing modern dance: for example here, at White Sands, NM.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DQWCdcpSMxA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-1391877414326579702015-03-25T15:31:00.000-07:002015-03-25T15:31:13.300-07:00Cruz Gets In My CrawIt's interesting listening to blowhard Ted Cruz as he spins a variety of fictions and tales, too many to fully enumerate, such as:<br /><br />2:32-3:07: Americans have had times before now when the outlook for the new generation looked bad. Remember The Depression anyone? Not much optimism in the 30's, judging based on their writings. There is nothing unprecedented about our current times. Resembles the crash-prone 1890's in some respects.<br /><br />7:04-8:25: Ted Cruz wants a Flat Tax. Allies such as the Mormon Church have repudiated Flat Tax. Reconcile your lame position, please. I like the image of IRS agents on the southern border, but it's a laugh line, not a serious proposal.<br /><br />13:57-14:30: Do you remember why the IRS was tasked with looking more-closely at political non-profits? It isn't because they want to know the content of your prayers. The NSA wants that. It's because Congress wants to make political donations non-taxable and wedge them into the same exemptions that charities receive, but doesn't have to courage to vote accordingly, so gives the IRS the thankless task of distinguishing among the various types of political non-profits based on very fuzzy criteria they prescribed. To turn around and then use that task assigned to them as the basis of a political attack on them is pretty scurvy, and pretty typical for a Republican.<br /><br />25:13-27:54: Obama and Carter are actually much different. Carter grappled with inflation. If anything, Obama grapples with deflation. Inflation is lower today than anytime in my lifetime. Or the lifetime before mine. Or the lifetime before that. Only neurotics worry about inflation these days. Obama's policy towards Israeli hardliners is much more gentle than Carter's ever was. I don't why Cruz thinks it's terrible for foreign leaders to mock Obama, when he does nothing but mock Obama himself. People also forget that the reason there was rapid growth after the 1982 recession (which broke the back of inflation at the cost of very high unemployment) was rampant deficit spending to support the Reagan military buildup. Typical GOP hypocrisy on budget issues. And for Cruz to claim Cold War victory for Reagan is asinine, since Democrats like Harry Truman were responsible for the multi-generational, ultimately-successful policy of containment. Republicans did little but get in the way.<br /><br />Ted Cruz has no business being anywhere near power.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E9L4wufeFPg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-2659979777660160912015-03-23T00:08:00.001-07:002015-03-23T00:08:41.388-07:00Final Performance of DMTC's "Sweeney Todd" 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eYW_1jDJ6Ws/VQ-6AF1b1LI/AAAAAAAAhLw/bMnZo7fXiug/s1600/11081148_10155369459625504_7061477540531696804_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eYW_1jDJ6Ws/VQ-6AF1b1LI/AAAAAAAAhLw/bMnZo7fXiug/s400/11081148_10155369459625504_7061477540531696804_n.jpg" /></a>Here's a wonderful picture! (Don't know who took the photo.)<br /><br />The view is from the stage left wing, top of The Cube, with Jori Gonzales (Johanna) in the trunk and Eimi Taormina (The Beggar Woman) in the background. <br /><br />It always amazed me how quickly Jori could get in and out of that trunk!<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />It was great fun to be Stage Manager for DMTC's production of "Sweeney Todd"! Today's final show (03/22/15) coincided with the 85th birthday of composer Stephen Sondheim, making it even that more special. So sophisticated; so dark; so difficult....<br /><br />In general, when it comes to musicals, I almost always prefer Act 1: a fresh new musical world beckons. For me, though, even the best shows run low on energy in Act 2. "Sweeney Todd" is the exception. It just gets better and better!<br /><br />Such wonderful songs!: "Green Finch and Linnet Bird"; "Kiss Me/Ladies in Their Sensitivites/Kiss Me Quartet"; "Pretty Women". Still, my favorite song of the show is "Johanna (Reprise)". By luck, in my capacity as Stage Manager and Stairs Bracer, I got to remain on stage as the song was sung. Wonderful!<br /><br />I tried to find a suitable video on YouTube: the original Broadway recording is always good. Some interesting videos out there, including one I misheard the lyrics to:<br /><br />"Witch!<br />A witch!<br />Smell that Sir?<br />An evil smell!<br />Ev'ry night at the Vespers Bell!<br />Smoke that comes from the Taco Bell!<br />C'iy on fire!<br />C'iy on fire!"<br /><br /></div><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0PrTkcfFGkk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-60907792240350196232015-03-20T14:42:00.000-07:002015-03-20T14:42:01.547-07:00Dancehall Class<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6EPhS6y2kk/VQyT6p39zwI/AAAAAAAAhLc/NAnBmczX5r4/s1600/11083687_10206162372167289_7968065430794990805_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6EPhS6y2kk/VQyT6p39zwI/AAAAAAAAhLc/NAnBmczX5r4/s400/11083687_10206162372167289_7968065430794990805_n.jpg" /></a>Tonight was my first night attending LaToya Bufford's Dancehall PowerUp, which generally meets twice a month (every other Thursday) at Sierra 2 Center from 8:30-9:30pm. Had a great time! Jamaican Dancehall is the best!<br /><br />LaToya is based in Elk Grove, so having a class closer to the city center is more convenient for me.<br /><br />Time to rest now. Fierce Funk + Dancehall + 3 hours of sleep last night are putting me under tonight.<br /><br />Hard to believe it's been more than 3 years since I spent much time at Sierra 2.</div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-1454817289552671182015-03-20T14:37:00.000-07:002015-03-20T14:37:52.562-07:00Better Iggy-Azalea StuffTrying to become familiar with the Iggy Azalea discography. So much of it is garbage, but it's quirky too, and some collaborations work well, like with Aoki:<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A6IAFUzmgSU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />This song is pretty good too.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8uH0TfkLN3w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-88613663921747646772015-03-20T14:33:00.002-07:002015-03-20T14:33:47.131-07:00Mr. New Mexico<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E_ScHT-NKY4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mlv0HcEuqjI/VQyR9cuVYXI/AAAAAAAAhLQ/VZFlWM0Fvfo/s1600/i-am-NM-profile-620x620.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mlv0HcEuqjI/VQyR9cuVYXI/AAAAAAAAhLQ/VZFlWM0Fvfo/s400/i-am-NM-profile-620x620.png" /></a>Two nights ago, they had "Young Guns II" on the teevee. James Coburn is great as John Chisum ("You just killed yourself! Bonney, you are a fool! You call yourself the scourge of New Mexico? Well, by God, I am New Mexico! And you are dead!") is awesome in this faceoff with Emilio Estevez as William Bonney, aka Billy the Kid.<br /><br />There was an excellent article in the New Mexico Historical Review a few years ago that identifies Billy the Kid as the second-most filmed character in world film history (Abraham Lincoln is first).<br /></div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-13911862975919421532015-03-20T14:30:00.000-07:002015-03-20T14:30:26.719-07:00401K RolloverToday, I finished a 401K rollover, which apparently is so important that only a paper check is trustworthy - no electronic transfer. It's for the largest amount I'm ever likely to see on a paper check in my life (I was going to include a picture, but worry about security).<br /><br />Retirement planners say that Americans shouldn't retire with anything less than $1 million in savings. I'll never get there, no matter how robust the stock market, so instead of spending my summers at Davos, I'll spend them throwing chunks of bread at obnoxious geese in the local park. But at least there's something there. Many people have nothing.Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-88080756851984746342015-03-20T14:29:00.000-07:002015-03-20T14:29:08.901-07:00Glenn Beck Bails On The GOPSo, like Ahab, Glenn Beck, who has been called the most-effective American demagogue since Father Coughlin, is strapping himself to the Tea Party and <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/glenn-beck-done-republican-party">abandoning the Republican Party</a>. He almost did so in 2012. Just another step on his journey. He's not finished yet. For example, Beck's intense criticism of the Federal Reserve and the Progressives behind Woodrow Wilson echoes very closely the very-liberal criticism of Woodrow Wilson by very-liberal people like Walter Karp. I think it's inevitable he'll end up as a liberal. But not yet....Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-31784647079078320392015-03-20T14:24:00.000-07:002015-03-20T14:44:07.917-07:00What's That Shadowy Place?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1dMmecekcSE/VQyPtg2PZHI/AAAAAAAAhK8/Pmx3pi9X5WY/s1600/10649655_930008727023848_3213187502205980885_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1dMmecekcSE/VQyPtg2PZHI/AAAAAAAAhK8/Pmx3pi9X5WY/s640/10649655_930008727023848_3213187502205980885_n.jpg" /></a></div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-50770988071805111122015-03-19T16:38:00.001-07:002015-03-19T16:38:24.223-07:00Various Zumba Songs I<i><b>Osmani Garcia Ft. Pitbull, Sensato - El Taxi</b></i><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qRp3-D3SMwI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br /><i><b>Guajiros del Puerto - Veo Veo</b></i><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S-7bl8ROPK0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br /><i><b>Carlos Vives - Como Le Gusta a Tu Cuerpo ft. Michel Teló </b></i><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SK2AUiZlIp8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-84384556700310979122015-03-19T15:55:00.000-07:002015-03-19T15:55:09.642-07:00The Regulators Will Ride ForeverLast night, they had "Young Guns II" on the teevee. James Coburn is great as John Chisum ("You just killed yourself! Bonney, you are a fool! You call yourself the scourge of New Mexico? Well, by God, I am New Mexico! And you are dead!") is awesome in this faceoff with Emilio Estevez as William Bonney, aka Billy the Kid.<br /><br />There was an excellent article in the New Mexico Historical Review a few years ago that identifies Billy the Kid as the second-most filmed character in world film history (Abraham Lincoln is first).<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E_ScHT-NKY4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-70742460740899985632015-03-18T13:41:00.000-07:002015-03-18T13:41:22.977-07:00Thinking About Bob Fosse's 'Bye, Bye Life' From "All That Jazz"My favorite movie musical of all time is Bob Fosse's "All That Jazz". There is much food for thought packed into this little musical.<br /><br />For example, at 5:22 in this video, the dancers assume the neo-classical Ascending Arabesque stance from George Balanchine's 1928 "Apollo", representing the Rays of the Sun. But there's just 2 arabesques here; not the original 3. The question in my mind is: Why?<br /><br />Is it just a looser, jazzier formulation? Is it a shout-out to Balanchine, perhaps? New York, after all, is a pretty small town, dance-wise. Fosse and Balanchine no doubt knew each other, or at least of each other. Balanchine was still alive when this movie came out, and could be expected to see it at the cinema, so it could be an acknowledgment. Is it Bob Fosse just being an ass, comparing himself to Apollo in sunset just as Balanchine was rebuked by critics in the 30's for comparing himself to Apollo in sunrise?<br /><br />I'm not sure which dancers represent which muse, but my opinion is Ben Vereen, facing Roy Scheider with his pointing, accusatory finger, is the third, missing arabesque, the muse of mime, Polyhymnia, symbolized by The Mask. (And masks open the number, and are featured throughout). Balanchine spent most of his career slowly stripping mime out of ballet, so maybe Fosse just finishes the task.<br /><br />One would think the Bob Fosse's muse would be Terpsichore, the muse of dance and song (and wouldn't Ann Reinking, on the right, be sublimely-perfect in that role?), or even Calliope, the muse of poetry. But in Fosse's judgement of his own life, The Mask leads the dance (as, indeed, Ben Vereen does, in "Bye, Bye Life").<br /><br />And that's just several seconds of this most-wonderful movie!<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IyXYPsDsOHY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-32260289549445577812015-03-17T13:40:00.000-07:002015-03-20T14:25:40.442-07:00Cemeteries Of The Future Have Arrived!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S2WMn6jcKb4/VQyQNcNyGOI/AAAAAAAAhLE/mGvEwP9q8Zo/s1600/10356715_10206132265414639_4388220701193993267_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S2WMn6jcKb4/VQyQNcNyGOI/AAAAAAAAhLE/mGvEwP9q8Zo/s400/10356715_10206132265414639_4388220701193993267_n.jpg" /></a>I did a double-take passing by the cemetery upon seeing what appeared to be glow sticks. Turns out, they were tasteful and pleasing plastic floral/butterfly/dragonfly gravesite decorations with colored LEDs that pass through an array of colors, like night lights. I wonder if they have a disco package? That bizarre narco cemetery in Culiacan, Mexico, with music and air-conditioned tombs may be the cutting edge of the future.</div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-57395963601261376332015-03-17T13:38:00.002-07:002015-03-17T13:38:50.466-07:00No Warning Label On The PigweedDan in the UK picked up some daffodils in a supermarket and noticed the warning not to eat them. Reminds me. There is a mucilaginous but edible plant called pigweed that grows in the cracks of Albuquerque sidewalks, and if I find someone tedious and dull I sometimes absentmindedly reach down, grab a bit, and start chewing.Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-48739727355969575012015-03-17T13:36:00.002-07:002015-03-17T13:36:45.788-07:00Grim SpringThe birch-like tree in the back yard appears gone, but that isn't so surprising considering the adverse climate of CA for a water-loving tree. The gum-like tree out front surprises me, though. It has a southern exposure, true, but it's favorably located for rain drain water, and should be drought-tolerant. No sign of life from it yet. A third tree isn't reacting to spring either. The drought is unforgiving.<br /><br />[UPDATE: The gum tree finally is starting to leaf out. It's on its Antipodean schedule, it seems.]Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862660.post-26474582421316321502015-03-17T13:35:00.000-07:002015-03-17T13:35:01.087-07:00Words Of Wisdom From The Streets Of Sacramento<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9h-4u5wJY0/VQiPwtlilUI/AAAAAAAAhJ8/T5IZ59g-eUo/s1600/11071550_10206114689735258_3330694637285826147_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9h-4u5wJY0/VQiPwtlilUI/AAAAAAAAhJ8/T5IZ59g-eUo/s400/11071550_10206114689735258_3330694637285826147_n.jpg" /></a></div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.com0